About SoCal horse racing, Del Mar in particular

Santa Anita opinions for Saturday, Oct. 14

FOURTH RACE: #1 Radio Silence (7-2)
Love War Front offspring going a mile on the turf. This colt is first-time in the U.S. Trainer Richard Baltas is 23% with a horse the first time in his care. Good works coming into the race and jockey Flavien Prat jumps aboard.

SEVENTH RACE: #5 Slasher (7-2)
This gelding takes a drop in class off a layoff since Aug. 2. He has a 6-1-1-3 record at Santa Anita. Apprentice Evin Roman rides for trainer Mark Glatt and they are 29% together.

NINTH RACE: #8 Battleground State (7-2)
My observation at Del Mar was that apprentice jockey Evin Roman needs to work on his turf riding. He came in second on this filly, but opts to ride the “other” Neil Drysdale, in Rolling Shadow (8-1) here. So either Roman’s agent made a choice or Drysdale made a choice. What Drysdale put on Battleground State is jockey Flavien Prat, who is the best grass rider on the circuit. I would also play an all-Drysdale exacta.